Ex-MBB Consultant Shares Top Tips for Acing Case Interviews

Kelly He-Sun, a former BCG consultant, reveals 3 things to do and 3 to avoid in case interviews at top firms.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:07am

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Landing a job at a prestigious consulting firm like McKinsey, Bain, or BCG often hinges on the case interview, where candidates must solve real-world business problems on the spot. Kelly He-Sun, a former BCG consultant, shares her top tips for standing out, including studying industry dynamics, explaining your thought process, and structuring your approach like an action plan. She also cautions against common pitfalls like losing sight of the core question, skipping financial considerations, and jumping to conclusions too quickly.

Why it matters

Case interviews are a crucial part of the hiring process at top-tier consulting firms, as they allow employers to assess a candidate's problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and business acumen. By understanding the do's and don'ts of case interviews, aspiring consultants can improve their chances of landing coveted roles at prestigious MBB firms.

The details

He-Sun, who worked at BCG for nearly six years, said the case interview is a crucial part of the hiring process, including at the prestigious MBB firms. She said her tips have helped some of the students she's worked with land offers. The three things He-Sun said consulting candidates should do to stand out are: 1) Study industry notes to understand how businesses in different sectors operate, 2) Explain your thought process step-by-step to show your smart thinking, and 3) Structure your approach like an action plan that outlines how you'd investigate the problem for a client. The three common mistakes she said candidates should avoid are: 1) Losing sight of the core question, 2) Skipping financial considerations, and 3) Jumping to conclusions too quickly.

  • He-Sun worked at BCG for nearly six years, during which time she also interviewed and hired candidates.
  • She now does content creation and private coaching, sharing tips about how to get hired in consulting.

The players

Kelly He-Sun

A former consultant and project leader at Boston Consulting Group who worked there for nearly six years. She now does content creation and private coaching, sharing tips about how to get hired in consulting.

McKinsey, Bain, and BCG (MBB)

The prestigious management consulting firms that are considered the top three in the industry.

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What they’re saying

“They're evaluating you on your thinking, ultimately.”

— Kelly He-Sun, Former BCG Consultant

“Don't assume your interviewer knows what you're thinking or why you're thinking that. You get points when you talk them through your smart thinking.”

— Kelly He-Sun, Former BCG Consultant

“You cannot jump to conclusions too quickly because it instantly reduces your credibility. You want to show that you're not going to get sidetracked by one thing that looks attractive. You're going to think through all the other aspects.”

— Kelly He-Sun, Former BCG Consultant

What’s next

He-Sun's tips can help aspiring consultants better prepare for case interviews at top firms like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. Candidates should continue practicing case studies, learning industry dynamics, and honing their communication and problem-solving skills to increase their chances of landing coveted roles at prestigious MBB firms.

The takeaway

Case interviews are a crucial part of the hiring process at top consulting firms, as they allow employers to assess a candidate's ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and solve complex business problems. By understanding the key do's and don'ts of case interviews, as outlined by former BCG consultant Kelly He-Sun, aspiring consultants can improve their chances of standing out and securing job offers at prestigious MBB firms.